Americans Will Need To Apply For Permission To Visit Another Major Tourist Hotspot, South Africa

Ask any American who's been to the U.K., South Korea, or even Thailand recently. Now, it's South Africa's turn to jump on the bandwagon.

Starting this fall, Americans will no longer be able to land in the popular African country passport-in-hand only, unless they have been pre-approved for travel; they shouldn't even bother getting to the airport in the first place, as they will be denied boarding.

ETAs Will Be Mandatory For Americans Visiting South Africa From The Fall

It's a tricky world to navigate as an American.

If you think the era of travel restrictions and complicated border rules is past us, now that COVID is half a decade old, think again: ETAs are on the rise, and they seem to be here to stay.

First introduced by nations like Australia and New Zealand to strengthen their border control and ensure a stricter screening of foreign arrivals.

It has since then expanded to countries like the United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, and soon enough, it will be introduced in Japan, and become widespread across much of Europe once the European Union's own version of an ETA, the long-delayed ETIAS, rolls out.

Americans wouldn't actually know unless they're very travel savvy, but even the United States and Canada have Electronic Travel Authorization systems in place—but then again, you're exempt from both as a U.S. passport holder.

The point is that ETAs have been sneakily becoming the norm rather than the exception for many years now, so it was only a matter of time before South Africa brought them in.

Easier Entry Into South Africa?

As confirmed by the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, the South African ETA will go live in September 2025. It will apply to all current visa-exempt travelers, including Americans, who have been able to enter South Africa visa-free or with an e-visa up until now.

In Mr Schreiber's words, the South African ETA is designed to reduce long waiting times at the border, document fraud, alleviate ‘administrative burdens', and ‘digitize' visa and entry/exit processes.

Similar to the visa-waiver agreement signed between the United States and South Africa, the ETA will authorize Americans to stay for up to 90 days and become a mandatory requirement.

Unless you have applied for an ETA and hold a valid travel permit, you will no longer be authorized to embark a South Africa-bound flight or cross the South African border.

How Will The South African ETA Work?

During their application for a South African ETA, Americans will be expected to fill out an online questionnaire, upload their passport information, and answer a series of questions about their personal lives and travel details.

ETA forms typically take 5-10 minutes to complete, and you're usually required to pay a processing fee at the end.

They are then processed online, and in most cases, you will receive approval directly from the email address you provided when applying.

Regrettably, at this stage, we have no information regarding the process itself, as the platform has not been released, nor processing fees, though ETAs typically cost between $5 and $23, depending on the country.

The question of validity has not been addressed, either: will the South African ETA be valid for a single entry? Will it be valid for multiple entries over a period of 2–5 years, like other ETAs currently available in the market?

We will be sure to report back as soon as those details are known.

Will It Replace The Current e-Visa?

South African authorities have yet to clarify whether the new system will completely replace the current e-Visa system, open to citizens of 30 countries (excluding the United States).

It is unclear whether the current e-Visa, introduced back in 2019, and the soon-to-be-launched ETA will be merged, or whether they'll stay separate, with distinct application processes and fees.

As the minister has confirmed, we do know that it will be fully issued digitally and can be stored in an applicant's smartphone wallet, right next to their bank cards and flight tickets.

As he described, it will include a QR code that can be easily flashed for verification by both check-in staff at airport counters, and later by border officers upon landing at one of South Africa's international airports.

Traveling abroad in the near future? Don't let these ever-changing entry requirements catch you by surprise: check out our new TOP Checker, with real-time updates for visa policies traveling to every country in the world.

https://www.traveloffpath.com/author/vinicius-costa/

Traveling To Cape Town? Take A Shower Before You Leave And Don’t Flush When It’s Yellow

Tourists traveling to Cape Town these days may have to select between experiencing one of the most beautiful towns in the world or taking a shower.

Forget pools, sauna, steam rooms, and please don’t take a bath. The day Cape Town, South Africa will run out of water is imminent.

The measures follow almost three years of water shortages, Cape Town’s rainfall dams are sitting at 27 percent full.

In a statement on the situation, South African Tourism said: “South African Tourism would like to thank the many tourists and tourism businesses that have heeded the call to reduce their water usage over the festive season – while urging them to not lose steam.”

South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona added: “We are pleased that we have not received any reports of any tourism attractions and services interrupted by the water shortage and we appeal to tourists, and tourism businesses to continue being good responsible tourism citizens and continue being water-wise, even as the peak holiday season in South Africa winds down.”

A BBC reporter puts it the way it is:

My wife does not use the shower anymore. Instead, she boils about 1.5 liters of water and mixes it with about a liter of tap water to have her daily wash while the rest of us catch the slow running water in a bucket for re-use in the toilet cistern.

As for flushing, which in the past would have used around six liters at a time, we have adopted the popular slogan: “If it’s yellow let it mellow and if it’s brown flush it down.”

Travelore News: South Africa Changes Travel Entry Requirements

The South African government just made it a bit easier to gather those documents needed when a minor is traveling to its country.

The South African Department of Home Affairs recently announced changes to South African entry requirement for minors born in the country who have a current South African passport.

According to Tim Clyde-Smith, South African Airway’s Country Manager for Australasia, people under 18 who are South African citizens and hold a valid passport will no longer require birth certificates which contain parental details to enter the country.

“This new arrangement, effective immediately, applies only to minors who have SA citizenship travelling from other countries (including Australia and New Zealand) to South Africa and who will not need the additional paperwork required until now,” Tim said.

“Those travelling and travel agents and partners should note that all other current arrangements for minors travelling remain in place and must be complied with in accordance with South African laws. If in doubt they should contact the South African High Commission in Canberra on 61 2 6272 7300 for further information,” Tim said.

Travelore Tips: What You Need To Know About South Africa’s Laws When Travelling With Children Under 18 Years Of Age

New laws about travelling with children come into effect on 1 June 2015. To assist travellers to South Africa with their plans,Cape Town Tourism has created a summary of some of the typical questions that come up for parents travelling with children or who wish to send their children on a trip.

Why is the government changing the child laws?

South African immigration authorities have noted that there is an unacceptably high volume of child trafficking over the country’s borders. The new laws aim to curb child trafficking but will result in considerable paperwork and advanced planning when travelling to and from South Africa with children.

When do the new laws come into effect?

1 June 2015

Who does this affect?

Anyone wanting to travel from or to South Africa with a child under the age of 18 years, parents who are travelling with their child but not their spouse and those who wish to send their child on a trip accompanied by someone other than a parent or unaccompanied. It does not affect those travelling within South Africa (i.e. you only need these documents if you cross South Africa’s borders by land, sea or air.

What will we need?

All children under the age of 18 leaving and entering South Africa will be required to have an unabridged birth certificateto accompany their passport – along with the relevant visa if required.

Various additional documents are required in various instances as outlined below.

Note that all documents must be dated within four months of the date of departure or entry. All documents must beoriginal or certified as a copy of an original by a commissioner of oaths or equivalent authority. 

What is an Unabridged Birth Certificate?

It’s a birth certificate that reflects the particulars of both parents of the child.

All children born in South Africa after 14 March 2013 were issued with a valid unabridged birth certificate automatically and free of charge.

Everyone born before that, and those from countries who do not automatically issue unabridged certificates, must apply for the document well before their travel date.

Do I need an unabridged birth certificate to travel around within South Africa?

No, but it will be required at all border controls by land, sea and air.

What about birth certificates that are not in English?

Should the birth certificate be in any language other than English, it must be translated into English in a sworn document by an authority in the country of origin. All supporting documents need to be original and duplicates must be certified.

There is no such thing as an unabridged birth certificate in our country, what must we do?

In the case of countries that do not issue unabridged birth certificates, a letter to this effect issued by the competent authority of the foreign country should be produced.

My child is adopted so our names are not on her birth certificate, what should I do?

The parents of adopted children should produce proof of adoption by means of an adoption certificate.

I am travelling with my child but not my spouse, do I need anything else?

If the child is travelling with only one of their parents, the traveller parent will be required to provide a passport and unabridged birth certificate (with particulars of the parents), as well as an affidavit from the non-travelling parent giving express permission for the child to travel with the other parent. The parent will also be required to produce a court ordergiving the accompanying parent full parental responsibility.

Legally separated parents should provide a court order when the other parent does not give consent.

I am a single parent, what do I need?

If the child’s unabridged birth certificate only reflects the name of one parent, parental consent from the absent parent is not required. If the parent’s name does appear, the other parent must consent in an affidavit. If the absent parent cannot be traced, a letter of special circumstances must be applied for.

My wife has passed away, what will I need in lieu of his consent?

Should one of the parents be deceased, a death certificate must be produced.

We are a gay couple (two fathers) and both our names appear on the Unabridged Birth Certificate. If we are both travelling with our child, will that suffice?

Yes, same sex parents are recognised as per the names on the unabridged birth certificate. Passports and visas (if necessary) will still be required. 

My child is going on holiday with her aunt, what do we need to prepare?

If a child is travelling with someone other than a parent, additional documents to be presented will include an affidavit from the parents or legal guardian to state that the child is allowed to travel with that person, the contact details of the parents or legal guardian and copies of the identity documents and passports of the parents or legal guardian.

Where both the parents of the child are deceased and the child is travelling with a relative, the Director-General must approve such a person to enter into or depart from South Africa with that child. This affidavit may not be older than 3 months, dating from the date of travel.

My 17 year old son is going to spend a holiday with relatives in South Africa, he is flying alone, what do I need to do to?

An unaccompanied child requires a passport, unabridged birth certificate and visa if needed. They will also need a parental consent affidavit or court order signed by both parents or a legal guardian stating that the child has their permission to travel.

The affidavit must also feature the parent’s contact details. In addition, you will need a letter from the person the child will be staying with, featuring contact numbers and the physical address of the place where the child will stay. Documentation should also include thename and contact details as well as certified copies of the identity document or passport, visa or permanent residence permit of the person, as well as the contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the minor.

I want to send a child who is in alternative care in South Africa on an overseas programme. What do I need?

A child who is in alternative care should produce a certified copy of an authorisation letter from the Provincial Head of the Department of Social Development where the child resides on departing South Africa.

How to go about obtaining an unabridged birth certificate in South Africa?

Parents are advised to apply for an unabridged birth certificate well in advance as the process may take months (the indicated time is between 3 and 8 weeks).

Apply at any branch of Home Affairs bringing:

-          R 75 in cash

-          Both parents’ ID books as well as the child’s ID number

You will be given forms to fill in.

For a summary of the Home Affairs legislation visithttp://www.capetown.travel/uploads/files/SummaryImmigrationMinors.pdf

Download and share Cape Town Tourism’s handy infographic http://www.capetown.travel/industry_blog/entry/south-africas-new-laws-when-travelling-with-children

For more information

Contact South African Home Affairs for more: www.dha.gov.za

To speak to someone call +27 11 461 9252 (overseas callers), 0800 60 11 90 (within SA), or email csc@dha.gov.za